5 February 2010 / AP, LOS ANGELES
Michael Jackson’s doctor is set to be arraigned today on a charge connected to the pop singer’s death, a source told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Dr. Conrad Murray is to be arraigned at a courthouse near Los Angeles International Airport, according to a person familiar with the planning, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the situation. The person didn’t say what Murray would be charged with. Prosecutors have declined to say whether they will charge Murray. Two law enforcement sources have told the AP that prosecutors plan to charge Murray with involuntary manslaughter. The officials requested anonymity because they are not authorized to publicly discuss the case.Los Angeles County district attorney’s spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said she could “neither confirm nor deny” that Murray would appear today at the LAX courthouse. She noted that the office has a policy of filing charges in the court district where the alleged crime occurred. Jackson died June 25 at a rented mansion on the west side of Los Angeles. The LAX courthouse handles criminal cases in the western portion of LA. Murray and his lawyers met Wednesday to discuss their client’s defense strategy in the event he’s charged in the singer’s death.
Murray and his legal team had received no word from prosecutors about a decision from the district attorney, but lead attorney Ed Chernoff said his client was ready to surrender to authorities in the event a charge is filed.
